Landmark bar cuts ribbon with Brookfield Chamber

Wednesday

The Helm Street Inn held a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.

The bar situated at the corner of Helm Street and Main Street has been a local institution going back to the 1960s.

New owners of the Helm Street Inn Mick and Susie Overton took over the bar and restaurant in January of this year. A ribbon cutting ceremony with the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce was held Aug. 21.

Overton says he thanks the community and the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity.

“Being a member of the chamber of commerce will allow me to be a bigger part of the community and give back,” Overton said. “We appreciate all of the support.”

With a bustling lunch crowd, it seems the Helm Street Inn is here to stay. Kenny Bailey has frequented the bar for the past decade and keeps coming back.

“The help is great, when you walk in they know exactly what you want to drink and what you want to eat,” Bailey said. “They’re really friendly people.”

Mick Overton took over the restaurant after being a boilermaker for the past 19 years. This is his first venture into owning a restaurant. His wife and co-owner Susie works at the bar too, while staying busy as the Brookfield Elementary secretary during the day.

For Overton, he wanted keep the restaurant local.

“All those years when I was on the road, I always wanted to be part of the community, I didn’t want to see the Helm Street go to someone outside of town,” Overton said. “This has given me a whole new meaning of buying locally and doing business in town.”

The Helm Street Inn has daily lunch specials, evening drink and food specials and events coming up. The restaurant opens every weekday at 6 a.m. for coffee. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the bar is open until at least 1:30 a.m. Breakfast is served on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sundays. Each Monday night is all-you-can-eat wing night, Wednesday nights are ladies night with drink specials for everyone, Thursday nights are all-you-can-eat boiled shrimp nights.

Last month the Helm Street featured a band and beer garden in conjunction with Brookfield alumni weekend. They will have more entertainment set for Balloon Derby weekend. On Aug. 31, the Helm Street will feature the band Dammit Jim for their Labor Day kickoff event. The next day the kitchen will be open late for anyone coming back from Balloon Derby. A listing of events can be found at the Helm Street Inn Facebook page.

Overton says he’s enjoying his time at the Helm Street.

“I like to visit with everyone who comes in, I’ve had a lot of fun here,” Overton said. “We’ll be here for many years to come.”

Overton is planning to do some work to update the building, which will start later this year, or early next year. The bar has remained the same since the Helm Street Inn burned down in April of 1997. After burning down, the restaurant and bar was reopened just three months later in June of 1997.

Previously, the Helm Street was named the Red Room during the 1970s. A bar, or restaurant has occupied the location on the corner of Helm Street and Main Street in Brookfield since the 1960s.